Sheet-feeding apparatus.



No. 878,614. PATENTED PE'B.'11, 1908.

A. B. DICK.

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..14. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY WITVNESSES: E I IN ENTOR U" Q V PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

A.. B. D'IGK.

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.14. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ill-IlllllllllllllllllllllIlIl II". lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT BLAKE-DICK, OF LAKE-FOREST, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. BIOK COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHEET-FEEDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed March 14:. l907-' Serial lie- 362309 tion.-

One feature of my invention resides inthev provision of a sheet-feeding apparatus so constructed that the. sheets are fed successively from thetop of asheet-pile. and the employment of intrlcate mechansim for moving the support for the sheet-pile bodily in a vertical direction as the sheets 'are taken therefrom is avoided}; I accomplish this By providing a pivoted support for the sheetpile, so arranged that its forward edge is" constantly pressed upwardly to carry the top of the sheet-pile near its forward edge against a sheet-separatingroll. Mechanism is employed. for operating this roll intermittently to feed the uppermost sheet from the I pile, and also a sto for preventing the feed of more than .one s eet at atime, the parts ofthe latter being arranged to permit a very delicate adjustment thereof.

Another eature of my invention? concerns the means for supporting and iding the sheets as they are fed along. is some times highly desirable that the lateral edges 0f-each sheet as it is fed along be so supported that these edges wcannot curl downwardly that is, that the sheet shall be supported in a horizontal plane over its entire surface, and the mechanism for atcomplishing this must be arranged for forwarding sheets of various" sizes. For this purpose,

I provide a plurality of elastic belts running on suitable rollers and adjustable guides for coacting with the edges of the sheets, and in the adjustment of these guides the belts-for supporting the lateral edges of the sheets are adjusted with them towapd and away fr 111 each (other, so that in any .position of t e guides these belts run close to them and thus running on these rollers are a pliirality direetlyunderlie the lateral edges of (the sheet.

The referred embodiment of my invention is i lus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a centra longitudinal section, Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the oper ating mechanism.

- Referring to these drawings, the apparatus consists of a base A, on which are mounted side-frames B, B. Extending between the side-frames B, B, and journaled for rotation in bearingatherein, are two rollers O, C and of endless elastic belts c, c. The shaft of the roller C is. extended through theframe B and carries on its end a pinion c, which meshes .with an idler-pinion 0. carried by astubshaft secured on the frame. B. This idlerinion, meshes with a gear D also mounted for rotation on a stub-shaft d secured to frame B. Secured to or formed integral with the ear D are a locking-plate d ,and a segmenta gear d The segmental gear d is adapted to mesh with a pinion e inounted on a shaft e which extends between and is journa'led at its ends in bearings in the frames B, B

but connected thereto by a clutch similar to the. clutch f 2 on shaft 1f such that'the roller can'rotate free of the shaft in the same direction as that in which the shaft is driven by Between the frames, this'shaft carries a roller E which is mounted looselyon shaft 6' 9 the gearing, the clutch serving to connect the'shaft to the roller when the former is driven. RollerE is of cylindrical shapewith a circumferential groovecut therein at its center, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Secured on shaft e adjacent to pinion e 'is a disk e having a tooth thereon coacting with the locking-plate d and formin therewith a stop to-pievent rotation of-sha t e and pinipn 0 except when the latter is engaged by segmeni talv gear'd r' The pinion e meshes with an idler inion e mounted for rotation on a stuh-s aft secured upon the frame B, and this pinion meshes with a pinion f mounted on the shaft f journaled in and extending between the side-frames and ca ing a separating and feeding rollerF. This-rollerpref- 'erably has a soft rubber surface and is so ar: ranged that it mayturn free of its shaft f in tween said-frames.

one direction, but when the shaft f is turned in that direction by the train of gears the roller is connected thereto by the clutch f and caused to rotate with the shaft.

- Extending between the frames B, B, directly under-the roller E, is a frame G having a bevel-gear g journaled therein and meshing with a bevel-gear 9 carried by a shaft g which is mounted for rotation in bearings formed in the frame G. The outer end of.

shaft 9 extends through an opening in frame B and carries a knurled thumb-nutg, and, if desired, an indicator 9 cooperating'with suitable marks on theside-frame B. The bevel-gear g has a central opening therethrough, which is thr eaded\ and which is adapted to receive a threaded pin h, the u I er end of which is secured to a block ecured to this block isa plate H, theends of which are received in ways k formed in the frame G. On the upper edge of the late H,

is an upwardly extending projection 3 adapted to enter the circumferential groove in the roller E and forming with said roller a stop to prevent the feeding of more than one sh et ata time. It will be seen that by turning the knurled thumb-nut g, the bevel-gear g is rotated, and as this gear is held' against axial movement, its rotation causes the .pin

h, the block h and the plate H to be raised or lowered, the plate sliding in the ways k so that the projection h enters more or less into the circumferential groove in roller E. v

' Extending between .the side-frames B, B,

directly over the roller E is a rod I having yond the separating and feeding roller F and at their ends carry a rod J extending be- Pivotally mounted upon the rod J is a support K for a sheet pile, consisting of a sheet-metal plate having downwardy extending flanges at its lateral edges and slots in these flanges to receive the rod J, this method of pivotally mounting thesupport permitting the latter to be readily removed in order to gain access to the parts of the machine and for convenience-in shipping. Secured to the under side of the support Kare brackets carrying a rod k on which a weight k is adapted to be moved back and-forth. A rod k is secured at one provided with a knurled head l0. is proyided with a numberof circumferk end to the weight k and extends through an openingin the outer bracketlc, its end being The rod ential grooves for coaction with the Wall of the opening in the bracket 7c, in orderto hold the weight k in any position to which it is moved. On the up er surface of the support K; are two adjusta 'le guides k having slots' therein'throiigh which set-screws 7c extend,

' these screws serving to loek'the guides in any position to which they may be moved.

During the operation of the machine, continuous rotary motion is imparted to the rollers C, C, and the gear D, in any suitable manner. shaft of the roller C provided with an operating handle 0 on the end opposite that ,on

which the pinion c is mounted. The pile of sheets to be fed are placed upon the support K and the latter is tilted on'its pivots so that the pile can be '"moved forwardly upon the support until the edge thereof is arrested by i the stop' H, and the support K is then released in order that the weight'lc may turn it on its p1vots until the forward'edge of the sheet-pile is carried upwardly against the separating and feeding roller F. The pressure of the pile against the roller F may be adjusted ,by changing the position of. the

In the drawings, l. have shown the Wei ht k on the rod is by means of the handle The brackets k are then moved up against the lateral edges of the pile of sheets and locked in this position. Then by turning the handle 0 the rollers C, C are ro i tated, and with them the gear D. When the segmental gear d comes into mesh with the pinion e the latter and the pinions e and f are rotated, thus causing rotation of the rollers E and F on the shafts of pinions e andf, and the roller F moves the uppermost sheet of the pile between the stop-plate H and the roll E until its forward edge is gripped by the rollers C and i. By turning the thumb-nut g, the position of the projection h on the stop-plate H with respect to the groove in the roller E can be so adjusted that only one sheet will be fed by the separator-roller F at a time. The projection k is bent at a slight angle to the vertical so that the forward edge of the sheet fed by roller F readily rides up this incline and then between the projectionand roller E. When in pioper position,.

the end of projection h extends a very slight distance within the groove in roller E and in. this position is held rigidly. -The edge of thesheet reaches the rollers B and C before-the positive driveof roller F is discontinued and is gripped between those rollersdue'ito the pressure exerted by springs t Wnen the segmentahgear d passes beyond the pinion e, the latter is held against further rotation by the locking members (1 and e but rollers E and F maybe further rotated by the sheet 1 as the latter is moved forward by the rolls C and '11, such rotation being permitted by the clutches between the rollers and their shafts. Thus while the roller C is continuously operated, the separator-roller F is positively opvals.

"sheets are carried by the belts c, c to the the sheets ing between the side-frames B, B and carryn will be seen that T moved upon the rod L, the arm Z the elastic belt 0 with it, and that,

claim as new and desireg to secur'e by Letters parallel rollers and means for operating the v i one sheet at a time consisting of a roller have T rlgidly-supported member entering within same, a support for a sheet-p1 pivotally vent any. turning movement of the latter and shaft, means for rotating said shaft inter:

an adjustable weight on said support exerterated to feed-a sheet, only at regular inter- Afterpassingbeyond the roller C, the

roller C, and then into the machineby which the sheets are imprinted upon, folded, or otherwis'ertreated. For some purposes it is of great importance that the lateral edges of e supported in such movement and also that guides be provided for precluding lateral movement ofthe sheets. For this purpose, I provide a rod L extending adjustable side-guides Z adapted to be" moved toward and away from each other upon the rod L. Extending inwardly from each of the side-frames is a short rod Z pass: ing through an opening in the guide I to preabout the rod L. 'Secured toeach 0 the side-guides Z, is an arm Z having upwardly turned end, this arm extending partially around the elastic belt 0 lying adjacent to the guide-platel, at a point in its travel from the roller 0 back to the roller 0. It when the sideuide is Wlll carry as the rotation of rollers C, Ccontinues, the belt 0 will be caused to travel in the path to which it was moved by the arm Z The belts c, c, lying between the outside laterally-adjustable belts, are caused to travel always in the same path by means of pins 1 extending upwardly from a bar 1 extending between and secured at its ends to the side-frames B, B. Having described my invention, ,what I Patent of the United States is:

1. In sheet-feedinga paratus, the combination of a rotatable s aft, a roller loosely mounted thereon, a clutch between said roller mittently, a support for a sheet-pile having one end thereof extending under said roller,

ing a constant pressure tendin to move said end upwardly toward said ro ler, a pair of sameito gri and forwr rdza sheet fed thereto by said rol er and to turn the roller upon its shaft, substantially. as described.

2. In sheetfeedingapparatus, the combination of a support fora sheet-pile, means for feeding sheets from said pile successively and a stop to prevent the feed of more than described.

ing a circumferential groove therein and a said groove, substantially as described; 3. In sheet-feeding apparatus, the combination ofa roller, means. for operating the warding de ices, means mounted with one end thereof extending under said roller and so arranged that sai u ,endis constantly pressed upwardly toward the roller, and a stop to prevent'the feed of more than one sheet at a time consisting of a roller having a circumferential groove therein and a rigidly-supported member entering within said groove, substantially as 4; In sheet-feeding apparatus, the combination of a roller, means for operatin 'the sameintrmittently, a support for as setpile pivotally mounted with one end thereof extending under said roller, an adjustable weight for pressing saidend upwardly toward said roller, a stop for preventing the I feed of more than one sheet at a time consisting of a roller having a circumferential groove therein, a member entering within said groove and means for rotating said roller, a pair of rolls for forwarding a ,sheet fed by'said roller past said sto and means for rotating said rolls, substantlally as described. 5. In sheet-feeding apparatus, the-,combination of a support for a sheetpile, means for feeding sheetsfrom said pile successively, stop to prevent the feed. of more than one sheet at a' time, consisting of a roller having a circumferential groove therein, a member coacting therewith, and means foradjustingl said roller and member relatively to vary t e extent to. which the end of the member. enters the oove in said roller and holding said parts rigidly in the position to which they are adjusted, substantially as described.

6. In sheet-feeding apparatus, the combi' nation of a support for a sheet-pile, means for feeding sheets from said pile successively,

of more than and a stop to prevent the feed one sheet at a time consisting ofa roller, a'

member coacting therewith, a threaded member connected to one of said parts, a gear havin a threaded opening in which said threa, ed member is received, and an operating device having a gear thereon meshing with said gear, substantially as described.

7. In sheet-feeding a paratus, the combination of a feeder rol er, a supportfor a sheet-pile pivotally mounted wit one end thereof extending under said roller, an adjustable weight, for pressing said end of the.

support upwardly toward said roller, a sto ro er and a member coacting therewith a I jac nt to said feeder roller, a air of forw ding rollers adjacent to sai sto roller for forwardin roller by said, feeder .roller, and a single means for imparting-continuous rotary mo-- tion to said forward ng rollers and intermit a sheet fed past sa1d-stop tent rotary motion to said feeder roller, substantially-as described. (T

8. In'sheet-feeding ap aratus, sheet-foror simultaneously supportingboth of the lateral edges sheets as they are forwarded by said devices,

"and means for effecting. an adjustment of said supporting means to adapt it for simul of the} taneously s as described.

utpporting both of the lateral edges of shee s' of various sizes, substantially apparatus, the com- 9. I sheet-feeding bination of sheet forwarding devices, ad-

'justable guides for coacting with the lateral edges of sheets forwarded by said devices,

means for simultaneously supporting both of the lateral edges of the sheets, and means for effecting an adjustment of said support-.

ing means to adapt it for simultaneously supporting both the lateral edges of sheets of various sizes, substantially as described.

10. In asheet-feeding apparatus, a plu-' rality of endless belts for forwarding sheets,

and means for shifting toward and away from each other the belts for supporting the justable guides at opposite sides thereof, and

means. operated in adjusting said guides for shifting the belts lying adjacent thereto so that they lie close to the guides in all positions ofthe latter, substantially as described.

bination of a pair of r0 ers, a lurality of endless elastic belts runnin t ereon, adjustable guides at opposite si es of said belts, a member on'eaclr of said guides extending about the 'belt adjacent thereto for shifting .the same asthe 'de is adjusted, substantially as deseribei bination of a support for a sheet-pile, a roller, means for operating the same to feed sheets successively from said pile, a stop to prevent the feed "of more than one sheet at a time, forwarding rollers, a plurality of endless belts running on said forwarding rollers, ad- 'ustable uides at 'op osite sides of "said elts, ant? means for s 'fting the belts adjacent to said guides so that they lie close to the guides inall positions of the latter, substantially as described.

This s ecification signed and witnessed this 8th ay of March, 1907.

' ALBERT BLAKE DICK.

Witnesses:

STEVENS, ELWYN. N. MOSES.

.- 13. In sheet-feeding aippafatus} the com-- 14. In sheet-feeding apparatus, the com-' 

